Team Novo Nordisk is more than a cycling team made up of riders living with diabetes. Yes the team has amazing dreams when it comes to the bike. With the Tour de France starting on Saturday many fans of Team Novo Nordisk will watch stage after stage and sit their dreaming of seeing the first all diabetes cycling team racing in the worlds biggest stage race. The greatest thing about Team Novo Nordisk is that they don't need the worlds biggest cycling race to change the world. They are already changing the diabetes world, the team is inspiring, educating, and empowering each and every person living with diabetes.

We have all heard the usual diabetes questions, "Do you have the good kind or the bad kind?" "People with type 1 diabetes can only eat special foods right?" The number of questions each and everyone of us face on a daily basis is astounding. Many of us will become angry when asked these questions and some of us will kindly answer while giving the person who asked the questions some diabetes insight. The good news is that Team Novo Nordisk is out to set the record straight on diabetes!! A team made up of nearly one hundred athletes from seventeen countries is out to change the diabetes myths.

The questions that we get asked about our diabetes have a negative effect on our emotions. Facing questions day after day we begin to get depressed and believe that something is truly wrong with us. Having started a new job recently I was truly worried about some of the questions that I would face from other employees. The good news is that I see these people each and everyday which makes it a lot easier to give more detailed answers. One of the questions I'm asked frequently is "Can you eat that?" My boss had bought donuts for break and as I grabbed one (my training has been going well and I felt athlete wise that it was ok) I was asked "Can you eat that? I don't want to see you on the floor later!!" I laughed and explained "I'll be just fine as long as I cover the food with insulin and test my blood sugar." As time has gone on the diabetes myth questions have slowly gone away and they have been replaced with real questions. "How do you know how much insulin to take to cover your lunch?" I will answer questions like that all day long.

Unfortunately all of us do not have the luxury of being able to answer questions in great detail when they are asked quickly in the community. Team Novo Nordisk is doing its best to change how people communicate when it comes to discussing diabetes. When the team first began racing with diabetes and tv commentary would say "Team Novo Nordisk riders suffer from diabetes" Think about that comment, SUFFER!! I suffer on the bike when I'm climbing a mountain. I don't suffer from diabetes. Team Novo Nordisk has met and will meet with all broadcasters before any race and shared a guide that they put together that changes how they communicate when it comes to the team and diabetes. Now commentators will say "Team Novo Nordisk riders are living with Type 1 diabetes." That small change instantly makes diabetes better. Changing how we communicate when it comes to diabetes is the first step in changing the diabetes stigma.

Team Novo Nordisk is out there doing all that they can on the bike to race in the Tour de France in 2021 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. Since Team Novo Nordisk was launched in 2012 they have made a commitment to the diabetes community, they are changing diabetes each and everyday. They are teaching newly diagnosed children and adults that anything is possible with diabetes. If you have a dream it is possible that you can live that dream, no one will stop you and diabetes will definitely not stop you!! Anything is possible, twenty years ago people laughed at the idea of a cycling team made up of athletes living with diabetes. Today Team Novo Nordisk is the most followed cycling team on social media. If you are ever in need of motivation or need help Team Novo Nordisk is there for you, together we will change the world of diabetes!!

Almost sixteen years ago I went to a local Joslin diabetes center to see my endocrinologist. I had not been taking care of myself and was not testing my blood sugar. I walked in without any blood sugar logs and honestly didn't even want to be there. During the appointment I was yelled at and was asked to leave after about ten minutes. Ten years later I was back at the same office and scared that I would be yelled at.

I walked into the clinic on a cold early spring morning with my right arm still bruised and sore from having surgery just a couple weeks earlier. I would sit down with my new diabetes team and setup a new way to control my blood sugars, no more NPH or regular insulin. I would go from insulin shots to an insulin pump and from a double digit A1C to an A1C that is very respectable in just a year. Obviously it was not easy and I could have done it without my nurse practitioner. Mile 11 is for the best nurse practitioner I could have ever asked for!!

When I walk into the diabetes center today I'm met with open arms and smiles. Everyone comes up to me and says hi, asks how I have been. How happy they're to see me doing so well, each and every time I go I hear "I can't believe how great you look, I still remember how bad you looked when you came to us!!" As I head into the office to speak to Angela we hug and more often than a tear or two will begin to slowly roll down our faces. After that it is business as usual and Angela works her magic. She knows that I demand a lot out of myself when it comes to my diabetes and will call me out if she sees a pattern of out of range blood sugars "It took you three days to make a change!?!? Obviously something was up you should have changed it sooner" It is that tough love that has made me so strong when it comes to my diabetes management.

From getting on the bike to running endurance races Angela has been the one doing the research and finding the perfect nutritionist for me. When I ran the New York City Marathon she made sure I had an appointment with her the week after I ran, she was worried about my blood sugars post race and wanted to check on me. She also made sure that I had the last appointment of the day so that we could talk about the race and my blood sugar management before, during and after the race. I still have the last appointment of the day reserved for when ever I have an appointment, the first thirty minutes are for diabetes the rest of the time is for life. Angela and I are like brother and sister, we can sit and have a true heart to heart conversation. I find it amazing that she knows every little thing about "Sharky" and "Minnie". She has helped me in so many ways that I can't say thank you enough. Mile 11 will have a lot of tears but also a lot of smiles because if I didn't have Angela I wouldn't have made it this far!!

Mile 10 of a marathon and my brain is starting to worry about the race a little bit. At the ten mile mark I want to make sure my blood sugar is in range and I'm beginning to look at my time to make sure I'm where I need to be to finish around the 3:45:00 mark. It is mile ten that begins the true look back to my life as a child, that is why mile ten is for the friend that has been there since first grade recess!!

At the age of seven children shouldn't like or dislike someone because of the sports team he roots for. At age seven you are probably following the cool team that everyone likes. In 1989 that team was not the Los Angles Raiders, yes they were a solid team but not one of the power houses in the NFL. Being a Broncos fan seeing anyone in silver black made me angry, who would like the raiders? At recess I had a strong dislike for this kid on the other kickball team wearing the Raiders hat. For almost twenty five years, him and I have been the closest of friends. We still talk crap to each other when the Raiders and Broncos play but the Broncos are Super Bowl champions so I have bragging rights for a little while.

Growing up just a stones throw away Nick and I had sports as a common bond. I would have a paper route as a child and would make sure to save his house for last in the summer so that he and I could talk and watch old MLB All Star Game Derbies. Just a couple of middle school kids being kids, watching baseball and talking about the cute girls in our classes the school year before.

In college and a few years after (pretending like we were still in college) Nick and I would have some fun. From house parties to nights in Providence we liked to have our fun. We have both grown but those talks we had at age 9 are still present today. Yes we talk about sports way to much but as we have gotten older our lives have changed and having someone to turn to in a time of need is the best thing in life. We have different priorities and are a little more mature...not much but a little. Nick is like a brother and to see him happy and successful means a lot to me.

Although he may not admit it I know Nick will be a little worried as I'm running the Chicago Marathon. He will also be following along on the app to check my times, that means he will be texting me while I run. When I hit certain marks I expect to hear a text tone and see Nick saying something like "Did you stop to get a beer?? Why is your time so slow??" That will piss me off and get me going, it always has and always will. Mile ten will feature Mitch Hedberg on my marathon playlist. I will not go into the details but I think someone just winked at Nick!! Mile ten will be a lot of fun and will be for my bash brother!!

I have always tried to enjoy each and every minute of training and racing. Is training glamorous or enjoyable? Not at all, but when you put in the time, the work and see results you can't help but smile. Yesterday as I prepared for a 1pm training ride the work started at 10am. As always it started with testing my blood sugar and setting up a temp basal based on that number. Then the waiting game begins, having to wait for the temp basal to be in full effect. Also in that time I'm preparing my body food wise, two hours before leaving I make sure to put in some healthy carbs.

Once everything is finally set I can get on the bike and enjoy the 40 mile ride I have planned. The crazy part is that being on the bike is the easy part when it comes to blood sugar management, just eat and drink every 15 minutes and everything should be perfect. That isn't always the case but a majority of the time it is smooth sailing. Yesterday was one of the best days I've had on the bike in sometime, the crazy me came back. I was enjoying racing cars up hills in our small tourist beach town. I loved being in traffic sprinting to stay around 25mph to stay with traffic as I went through downtown. Each and every part of the ride was perfect. The best part was that I took it all in, the high heart rate, the sounds and the sights. When I can train with a smile on my face it is a great day!!

Coming home covered with sweat and exhausted was not the end of the ride diabetes wise. Although my blood sugar was in range I would still closely monitor my blood to make sure it stayed in range as my body came down from a tough training ride. When it all goes well there is no better feeling!! As always if you put in the work and the effort the results will follow!!

For the past two weeks or so I have been taking Endurox Excel and have seen amazing results. I feel stronger on the bike and while running, I also have a lot more energy throughout the day. With such a great product what could the problem be? The effect that the product is having on my blood sugars is a challenge right now. My blood sugars have crept out of range more often in the past two weeks, nothing crazy but just enough to be taking five more units of insulin per day.

This is not the first product that has done this to my blood sugars. From daily vitamins to hydration products all of been a little bit of a challenge when it comes to keeping my blood sugar in range. Obviously I'm not a doctor, I don't know why my blood sugars are just of range more consistently but like any problem that diabetes presents I just go on with my business and adjust my insulin rates. In 25 years of living with diabetes that is all I have ever done, what I do know is that I feel stronger and better than ever when it comes to cardio exercise. For that reason I will continue to take Enduro Excel, I have been a believer in Pacific Health products for years and to have a doctor tell me that she fully supports the product makes me use it day in and day out.

Tomorrow morning I will get on the bike and go for an intense 20 mile time trial ride and feel amazing!! I will prepare for the ride like any other ride I have done in the past six years. Post ride I will be anxiously monitoring my blood sugar to stay in range and to get a better understanding of my body and how it will react to the food, drink and supplements that go in to my body.

The school year is over and children everywhere are headed off to camp. For children a week or two at camp gives them friends and memories that last a lifetime. For children with diabetes a diabetes summer camp is the perfect way to meet others living with diabetes and to learn about how others manage the everyday challenges that a preteen or teenager have when it comes to diabetes.

Now imagine a diabetes camp that is specific to cycling. Team Novo Nordisk Talent ID Camps are just that, camps where diabetes and cycling are the main focus. Team Novo Nordisk created these camps to find young cyclists with diabetes in hopes of finding young cyclists that will one day be members of the Team Novo Nordisk pro team. These camps were created with diabetes as the main objective, with talent id camps the team could teach teenagers how to be successful with diabetes while riding the bike. The camps are by no means easy, people that attend will be challenged on the bike as they ride very difficult roads in and around Athens, Georgia.

The first talent id camp started yesterday and runs until from the 19th of June. A second camp will run from July 12th until July 17th. Team Novo Nordisk has been posting pictures from the first camp on Snapchat and to see how the attendees are bonding is amazing to see. As I said this camp is about diabetes, yes all of the attendees can ride a bicycle really well but they are forming a bond through diabetes. Just like any other diabetes camp the campers are sharing how they manage their diabetes on the bike with other campers. They are also learning from members of Team Novo Nordisk how they manage their diabetes while racing all over the world.

For the riders that are attending the first camp they are walking away with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. They have a better understanding of how to race to the best of their ability with diabetes. These attendees are the future of Team Novo Nordisk and diabetes. With these camps Team Novo Nordisk and teenage athletes living with diabetes are in great hands, the future looks very bright and what makes Team Novo Nordisk so great today will continue with each and every person that attends the talent id camps.

My hopes was to be writing this as the San Jose Sharks were hoisting Lord Stanleys Cup. Unfortunately that did not happen but each game I sat and cried a little thinking about what could have been. I find it odd that I started this post talking about the sport that Tom Cavanagh loved so much but at the time was probably the lowest when it came to things in his life that he loved. Tom was the most caring and fun person I have ever met in my life, each and everyday I try to live life the way that Tom did, smiling and finding the best in everyone and every situation.

Before meeting Tom while working at the golf course, he and I faced off a few times in little league baseball all star games. I was this scrawny little kid on the mound that knew how to pitch but didn't have any other gift. A man in a red number nine uniform comes to the plate and with ease takes a ball out of the park. That was my first introduction to Tom and honestly I hated him at that moment.

Tom would begin working at the course the same year as I and for someone of such great athletic ability you would think he was just another kid. It wasn't until the end of that summer that I learned Tom played hockey, we worked together for eight hours and we'd talk about music, baseball and everything else that 17yr old kids talk about. Tom was they kid you wanted to work with if you were having a bad day, he would make you work but make sure to have fun no matter the weather or the job. As Tom headed off to Harvard to play hockey I got my first glimpse at just how smart he was as a hockey player. In the first round of the bean pot Tom was bringing the puck up the right wing and a defenseman was coming at him full speed. Tom had nowhere to pass the puck and would have been leveled if he held on to the puck, just as the defense man approached he passed the puck off the boards avoided the hit and regained possession of the puck. I sat in my bed in awe!!

Tom would go on to get drafted by the Sharks and have an amazing career with the AHL Worcester Sharks and spend time with the NHL Sharks squad as well. That is all well and good but what Tom did off of the ice was ten times better than anything he ever did on the ice. He gave back to the community be it donating old equipment or just helping out at in anyway at a community event. Tom had the biggest heart and did everything to make others happy. He would come back to Rhode Island in the summer and be a normal guy, nights out at local beach bars, and spending time with his family made Tom so happy. Sitting and talking about life while sipping a beer are my greatest memories of Tom. Tom taught me to enjoy everything that life has to offer.

Tom has touched so many lives and left the world a better place than when he entered. Mile 9 will be the toughest of any mile, I could write for days about the influence Tom has had on my life, his memory will live on forever. Below is an amazing video that shares Toms story, I hope that everyone takes the time to watch it and learns a little bit. I'm honored to have known Tom and will share his story with my children and make sure they know how great of a man he was.

We all have moments in our lives that we will never forget. Sports teams and their fans have those moments as well, and this weekend Team Novo Nordisk had that moment. Below is an article from Team Novo Nordisk talking about the best weekend yet for the pro team!!

Team Novo Nordisk’s Javier Megias Finishes Second Overall at Tour de Korea

Seoul, Korea (June 12, 2016) — Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, earned its best general classification result to date when Spaniard Javier Megias was runner-up overall at the eight-day Tour de Korea. The result serves as a career best overall finish at a UCI race for the 32-year-old Megias.

“This result is the product of amazing teamwork. I couldn’t have done it without the complete dedication and support of my teammates,” Megias said. “I have raced for Team Novo Nordisk since its inception and I am very happy to deliver this result and show the world what may be possible with diabetes.”

Team Novo Nordisk raced aggressively from the start at the Tour de Korea with Andrea Peron (ITA) taking ninth on the opening stage. Charles Planet (FRA) ranked in the top 10 overall following stages 2 and 3 and took 10th place on Stage 5. On Stage 6, Megias finished fifth and moved into second overall. The six-man squad raced to defend Megias’ ranking for the remaining two stages.

Megias started cycling at nine years old. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 15, and continued chasing his dream of being a professional cyclist. In 2006, he signed his first professional contract with the Pro Tour team, Saunier Duval. Megias has completed one Grand Tour to date, the Vuelta a Espana, where he earned a top 10 stage finish in 2007. Throughout his lengthy career, the Spanish climbing sensation has earned top 10 stage finishes at the Tour of Utah, USA Pro Challenge, Tour de Beauce, Philly Cycling Classic and the Tour of Britain, Tour of Turkey, Trofeo Laigueglia and GP Lugano.

Team Novo Nordisk Senior Vice President of Athletics and General Manager Vassili Davidenko said Megias’ result was a reflection of the team’s overall development and that he was proud of the team's effort to protect and defend Megias’ jersey throughout the dynamic race.

“The Tour de Korea has been a good race to this team over the years. I am very pleased with the entire squad. It was inspiring to see how aggressive our riders raced all week in breakaways and sprint finishes,” Davidenko said. "Javi finished 14th overall last month at the Tour of California against some of the best cyclists in the world. Now he earned his career best at the Tour de Korea. We’re excited to see what happens throughout the remainder of this season, especially at next month’s Tour de Pologne.”

Megias’ next race is the Tour de Pologne, which runs July 12-18 and marks Team Novo Nordisk’s debut at a World Tour stage race.

Not to be outdone many Team Novo Nordisk members found themselves on the podium of their respective races. Team Novo Nordisk member Tommy Neal won the annual 5k held at the American Diabetes Associations Scientific sessions. Tommy has now won the race four years in a row and some bragging rights over other teamates that competed.

Declan Irving a member of the Junior team placed 3rd in a New South Wales Juniors race.

Brais Dacal a member of the development team placed 3rd in his race this weekend and is already looking forward to getting a better result next weekend at the North Star Grand Prix in Minnesota!!

Photo is the property of Team Novo Nordisk

As an athlete living with diabetes this weekend has taught myself and so many others that it is a great time to be living with diabetes. The weekend started with the announcement of 91 global ambassadors for the Team Type 1 Foundation. Proving that college athletes living with diabetes can compete with anyone in any sport, diabetes will not stop them!! Then the first team made up of athletes living with diabetes took center stage, what is missing are all the stories of amateur athletes winning races while living with diabetes. That is what Team Novo Nordisk is all about, inspiring each and every person living with diabetes to go out and do the best that they can while proving anything is possible with diabetes!! The future is ours we just have to go kick ass and show the world what we can do athletically with diabetes!!!

The Team Type 1 Foundation means so much to me, I love the scholarship and what it is all about. I may not have been the best athlete in my high school but if the Team Type 1 Foundation were around I would have done all that I could to earn a scholarship. The foundation is lead by the most inspirational athlete living with diabetes, Mr. Phil Southerland. He and so many people at the Team Type 1 Foundation have brought diabetes and athletics to the forefront, proving that anyone living with diabetes can compete at any level in any sport. The 91 student athletes that received scholarships this year will be the face of the foundation for years to come. They will inspire young children living with diabetes all over the world to live successful lives as athletes with diabetes. Below is the official press release which was put out this morning by the Team Type 1 Foundation!!

Program more than triples number of annual scholarships awarded since inception

​Thursday, June 9, 2016 — June 9, 2016 (ATLANTA, GA) – The Team Type 1 Foundation, a nonprofit organization pursuing a global mission of education, empowerment and equal access to medicine for everyone affected by diabetes, has awarded scholarships totaling $120,000 to 91 collegiate athletes as part of its Global Ambassador Program. Established in 2014, the program recognizes college students with type 1 diabetes who are using their sport as a platform to inspire. The Foundation’s 2016 commitment means that in just three years, Team Type 1 will have given 171 college scholarships to athletes with type 1 diabetes, and more than tripled the 24 scholarships awarded in year one.

For the 2016-17 academic year, the Foundation will fund five $5,000 and six $2,500 scholarships, with an additional 80 student athletes receiving awards of $1,000.

“This year’s recipients are a remarkable group of young people, all of whom have a desire to leverage their athletic gifts to empower others living with diabetes,” said Team Type 1 Founder and President Phil Southerland. “Death by diabetes is still a prognosis in many parts of the world, and we are challenging these athletes to be a part of our team to tackle that problem. The Global Ambassadors are vehicles of hope and proof that people with diabetes can not only survive, but live healthy, extraordinary lives.”

The Global Ambassador Program is the Foundation’s cornerstone initiative in the U.S. and was established in 2014 to help students and their families offset the cost of diabetes care, which can average an additional $300-$500 per month. The students selected will be integrated into the Foundation’s outreach activities and participate in numerous diabetes conferences, diabetes camps, clinics and educational events throughout the year.

Ambassadors will also help increase awareness about Team Type 1’s mission in developing countries where access to diabetes management tools is limited. “In Rwanda, the Foundation has contributed more than $3 million in medical supplies and support, a model it hopes to replicate in other countries around the world”, said Team Type 1 Program Director Dr. Biljana Southerland.

The Global Ambassador Program is generously supported by the Tina and Richard V Carolan Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit supporting cancer research and humanitarian relief, and Curant Health, one of the fastest growing healthcare companies in the nation providing home medication management services to patients living with chronic diseases.Scholarship recipients were selected based on a number of eligibility factors, including grade point average, athletic achievement, personal story, financial needs and community service. For more information on the Global Ambassador Scholarship Program, please visit: http://teamtype1.org/gasp/

ABOUT TEAM TYPE 1 FOUNDATIONEstablished in 2005, the Team Type 1 Foundation is a nonprofit organization pursuing a mission of education, empowerment and equal access to medicine for everyone affected by diabetes. Collaborating with governments, healthcare professionals, diabetes experts and individuals living with diabetes around the world, the Team Type 1 Foundation is bridging the gap to access and education through sustainable and economically viable solutions. For more information, visit: www.teamtype1.org.

ABOUT PHIL SOUTHERLAND

Phil Southerland is the CEO and co-founder of Team Novo Nordisk and Founder and President of Team Type 1 Foundation. Team Novo Nordisk is a global sports organization home to more than 100 endurance athletes with diabetes, spearheaded by the worlds’ first all-diabetes professional cycling team. Southerland was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just seven months old and doctors told his mother he was unlikely to live past the age of 25. Now 34, Southerland is a diabetes ambassador and thought leader, educating and empowering people throughout the world and driving a movement to redefine the boundaries for those living with diabetes. He is also the author of the book “Not Dead Yet,” which chronicles his life from early diagnosis to his mission to change the face of diabetes on a global scale.

As of late everything from training runs to blood sugar management hasn't had that same feeling. No matter what I would do it wasn't fun or the top priority. Things change and we over analyze everything when it comes to our lives as athletes and as people living with diabetes.

For years people would tell me to becareful because I'm bound to get burned out when it came to diabetes management. For the first time in seven years I believe that has happened. It has also happened when it comes to running. My life is much different now than it was just two years ago and I may not be having as much fun in that department as well. I believe that I have caught the problem before it has gotten to a point where it can't be repaired. I need to have fun and I need to challenge myself.

When it comes to marathon training I have learned to enjoy each and every run. I don't know when my last run will be so I might as well enjoy it. I shouldn't worry about time I should just enjoy the road. Diabetes management is a little tougher, food choices need to change and I need to challenge myself to stay in range. I need to find new rewards for doing so, I love a challenge and love the rewards. As the saying goes enjoy life because none of us get out of it alive!! I mean if we can't have fun and can't smile than what's the point?

A nine minute mile 8 will be filled with some tears but they will be tears from laughing so hard. Mile 8 is for one of the greatest and most genuine person that I have met in my life. For a long time I didn't always enjoy the little things in life, I had a chip on my shoulder and was always thinking "why me". Then another one of these boys from Warwick came down to work at the golf course for the summer. It took me about three summers working with Dave Cavanagh to learn how great of a person Dave is.

As Dave and I got older afternoons were spent golfing at the course and having a few beers. The conversation would go from quoting Forrest Gump to serious in seconds. No matter the situation Dave can always make you smile and I have needed that a lot in my life. His advice and honest feedback has meant so much these last seven years. If I have a bad day I can pick up the phone and send Dave a Forrest Gump quote and get the most ridiculous quote back.

Although Dave is living in Indianapolis he is always a part of my life and my families and that means the world to me. Getting a random text asking about the kids and how Leanne is doing just shows Daves class. Personally I hope that I have been there to help Dave when he has needed it the most, he has helped me so much that I'm forever indebted to him.

As the Chicago Marathon approaches I'm sure I will be hearing from Dave a lot, a marathoner himself he will be telling me that his Indy Marathon time will be better than my Chicago marathon time. I feel a neutral site marathon battle between Dave and myself is coming up in 2017, if he isn't scared!! Mile 8 I will be saying "CRANSTON!!!!" and holding my nose, I will be saying "I showed her how to dangle", and will be listening to the greatest band the earth has ever known when The Killers are singing the song below. I will be doing all of this while laughing and running mile 8 for one of the best friends anyone could ever ask for!!

Last nights race brought with it a lot of firsts, my first race other than a 5k being held after 5pm and my first true trail race. Any race starting at 5pm or later is a challenge when it comes to my blood sugars. Some people have a blood sugar spike when they wake up in the morning, I however have the 5pm blood sugar spike which makes racing at this time a challenge. Like any challenge that I face I came in with a plan that would work. I was planning on a blood sugar just above my normal set range, if I could do that I would not need any insulin while running, the cardio would keep my blood sugars in range. An hour before the race everything was perfect, my blood sugar was at the higher end of my range which was exactly where I wanted to be.

As I began to warmup I tested my blood sugar one more time and was still very happy with the result. A ten minute warmup mile would have me sweating and ready for the race. About a quarter of a mile in to my warmup run I noticed that the wide trail at the start got very narrow and a little rocky. Until last night I had never run at this trail, I was expecting a trail that could handle a vehicle, I was wrong. I was in for a true trail race which I was very excited for!!

Just before the start my phone died so I would be running without music and would have no clue what my splits were. Things happen, I can't control everything. Without knowing splits I had to make sure that I ran a constant pace, if I started to fast I wouldn't have a watch telling me I was going to hard to early. As the gun sounded I found my groove and was feeling strong. Unfortunately the race had no mile markers, I was told that the 7.5 mile course would have 4 water stations. I figured when I got to the second water station I would be half way done with the race, I'm not a math major but I thought that was a good way to figure it out. The trails varied in width throughout the race, at one point I felt like I was in the television show Lost being chased by the smoke monster down a narrow path in the woods. At that moment I was very happy I didn't bring my headphones because I remembered why I love running. Running is taking in nature and enjoying the sounds and sights that are all around you. A smile would be on my face and I would start talking to the runners I was with, a true trail running experience.

I would finish the course in just under one hour and four minutes, not a great pace but one that I can live with. I'm just now starting to get back in to a routine and my body is feeling ok. I have been unable to stay hydrated for a couple weeks now and I think that took a lot out of me during the race. I downed about 60oz of water within thirty minutes of finishing. My blood sugar was at the lower end of my range so at the end of the day I had a great race. I may not have run to the best of my ability but I won the diabetes blood sugar battle and that means the world to me!!

Each and every training run or race is a test, can my body handle the what is ahead physically and what about my blood sugar? From a one mile run to a marathon the preparation is the same and begins the night before. A high carb dinner the night before fills the gas tank and gives the energy for whatever tomorrow will bring. Most races take place between 6am and 9am before the summer heat and humidity kicks in. I have been in so many races that start at 6am that preparation as an athlete with diabetes is old hat.

Tomorrow I will be taken out of my element as I head to Bluff Point in Connecticut for a 7.5 mile trail run. The race begins at 6pm which allows me to work a full eight hour day and have about an hour and a half to get something to eat and make sure my blood sugar is in range so that I can run to the best of my ability. This week I have been trying my best to train around 6pm and have had some interesting results. One day I'm in range the next I'm below my set range while training. Exactly what I expected but I feel that I have learned a lot in one short week so I feel confident moving forward.

As always the key to tomorrows race is blood sugar management throughout the day. If I'm on the blood sugar roller coaster, tomorrows race will be very difficult. If I stay in range then my mind will be focused and not worried about what could happen while racing. With a the proper mind set and a flat course I feel that I can run very very well tomorrow. As always I will be sure to have enough carbohydrates and fluids with me to run a great race.